Around the Chilterns on a Fixed Wheel Bicycle
… and back again
First case today was to do a hearing test on a three-week-old baby. Second case of the day was fitting hearing aids to a one-hundred-and-two-year old woman. Third case was starting the hearing aid fitting process for a six week old baby. One of the things I love about this job is the variety of people I see
So, Mr Farage accuses a group of Scots of being fascists.
Coming from the xenophobic (to put it kindly) leader of the BNP-Lite, that’s a bit rich.
Okay, there’s always been a bit of an “anyone but England” when supporting sports, but racism has never been a problem in Scotland. The Scots have been too busy kicking the crap out of each other on sectarian grounds to worry about anything like race.
Farage is a nasty little man whose ideas are revolting. A disgusting excuse for a human being. The people of Edinburgh were right to treat him as they did.
Absolutely spot on
So, we did get complimentary food today which was good.
Quality wasn’t great though, as it came with a salt overdose.
They did go and get me a complimentary G&T though which was…
Well, it was Beefeater with generic tonic so not great taste, though it did at least have some ethanol
Got the upgrade to First Class on the return journey. Certainly less cramped than outward in standard, but otherwise not sure whether it’s still worth the extra. We’ve just had the bacon sarnies brought around, and a cup of coffee but at first glance that looks like the sum total of the extras. Last time around the service was still being run by GNER, and we had coffee on demand, and a meal included at lunchtime. Now that it’s under the management of the government, these extras appear to have gone.
Fortunately the free WiFi remains. The civility of of the staff does not. Okay they’re not actively rude or anything, just rather surly and uncommunicative.
Aberdeen has entered the race to be the UK City of Culture in 2013, according to the ever reliable P&J. Funny, I thought Derry/Londonderry has been the City of Culture since Jan 1st, and would remain so for the rest of the year.
Okay, typical P&J journalistic accuracy and they actually mean they’ve applied to be City of Culture 2017.
Srsly???
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
[breathes]
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
ahahahahahahahahahaha
Working in my mother’s garden this morning. There’s been an Escallonia against the back wall of the garden, been spreading for years and is now more or less dead. Went in there and ripped out all the dead wood, leaving just two branches which showed a bit of life and might come back into leaf. A third branch I left because it was entwined around a branch of the neighbouring Rowan. Didn’t have any tools, just breaking off the dead wood (it was that rotten) and would have needed a saw to get the branch away from the Rowan.
Cleared away all the dead wood that had built up over the years underneath the trees. As soon as I had finished a blackbird was straight in there and emerged a few minutes later with a beak full of grubs and worms. It stopped on the ground no more than two feet away from me. It stopped and looked at me, not in the least afraid. It seemed to be saying thanks for clearing a new source of food, then flew off into the field next door
I’d forgotten just what a Scottish Gift Shop was like.
Now admittedly it’s a long time since I was inside any gift shop, but by my memory, the Scottish varietal always stood apart. Something that cannot be equalled in the sheer appallingness of the twee crap on offer within. All tartan and bagpipes and haggis.
Today it was Glamis, but it could have been anywhere, this was typical of the population as a whole
Heading north to spend some time with the family. First time I’ve been back in four years. Temperature has dropped noticeably since leaving London. By the time we’d reached Edinburgh it had dropped 10°C. I’ve packed as for the south. And having become southern-softified, I may have to buy some jumpers to tide me over…
Promises to be an interesting week
Glorious day today, temperatures in the low 20s. Only down side was a strong wind from the south and east.
South towards Gerrard’s Cross and Beaconsfield and on down to the Thames at Taplow. Followed the Thames and stopped at Boulter’s Lock to have lunch. Continued following the river to Bourne End Then up through Wooburn to Wycombe. Up along the Risborough road to Bradenham then up through the woods to Naphill. On to Lacey Green and then back by way of Hampden and Missenden.
Went out of my way to do hills and managed to do all without stopping. Finally getting over the winter break. 78km at a poor 18.9km/hr, but given the hills and the headwind it’s probably okay.
Nice to be warm again
